Tart of the Week: Harriette Wilson

Like her predecessor, Mary Robinson, before her Harriette Wilson became famous for her sex appeal, tenacity, and her uncanny ability to blackmail.

Born in 1786, Hariette Dubouchet, teeters on being an official 18th century tart since most of work was done during the Regency period. But I will not let that disqualify her from her prestigious title, especially since this blog is more about the long 18th century. Harriette grew up surrounded by the sounds of constant ticking, her father being a Swiss clockmaker who set roots in England. She was also surround by her fourteen siblings. So like many people born into a large family, she was eager to get out.

Perhaps when her father changed their name to Wilson, in 1801, Harriette saw the change as an opportunity to start anew, and escape a mundane existence. She was no beauty and had little education. But what she lacked she made up in determination. By the time Harriette was fifteen she found the means to escape out of her crowded, ticking home. She became the mistress of Lord William Craven, the son of lovable Lady Craven; and so launched her career as courtesan which would also tempt three of her sisters to follow in her footsteps.

Harriette turned out to be a natural. In fact, I would go so far as to say she was born a couple of decades too early and should have had her heyday at the same time as Elizabeth Armistead, Grace Elliott, Perdita and the Bird of Paradise. Just like these famous courtesans of the 1770-80s, Harriette partied hard, was wracked with debt, was followed in the press, and was the most sought after woman. Not to mention, she also became the mistress of, you guessed it, the Prince of Wales. Many famous men entered the bed of Harriette and many more sought it out. While she spent her money unwisely, Hariette used her position wisely by feverishly educating herself every chance she got. She also became a fashion icon of her time, and was known to be very picky when it came to what to wear, on both her and her men.

But fame can not last forever. Harriette bowed out and retired in her thirties, and debts began piling up. What's a girl to do? Time to write a tell-all memoir which discusses all the famous men she slept with and ever some dirt on other ladies of society. She sent letters to everyone mentioned in her manuscript asking for a mere 200 pounds to have their names blacked out. This caused quite the ordeal among politicians, noblemen, and anyone else who was a household name. Although, it really shouldn't have considering just about everyone had slept with Harriette. One of the people who refused to pay for her silence was the celebrated Duke of Wellington who famously backfired at her, "publish and be damned." Ooo those sound like fighting words to me! She published alright, and next to the Duke of Wellington's name was this little tid-bit, "[he] has sighed over me and groaned over me by the hour..." Me-ow!

When she died in 1845 Harriette had just converted to Catholicism. One of her few mourners was her old fling, Henry Brougham, former Lord Chancellor, who arranged her funeral.
Harriette remains proof that the pen is mightier than the sword, or at least, just as scary.

Tart of the Week: Elizabeth Lady Craven

Let's talk of a pure London girl this week. Who doesn't love those? They're cute and fun and have great outfits. Sure, there might be some complications with men and you can't cross them on a bad day but that is part of of their charm. Lady Elizabeth Berkeley was born in Westminster in 1750, the daughter of an earl. Not much is known of early life, but at 17 she married the Honourable William Craven who became the 6th Baron Craven two years later.

As is typical of these aristocratic tarts, Elizabeth's marriage was a rocky one. She had an affair quickly after her marriage with the Duc de Guines, a French ambassador. Despite this, she managed to pop out six children. But Elizabeth wanted more than just that and settling into the boring life of a docile wife left a bad taste in her mouth. Her true calling was writing and she produced many notable plays, books, and even a memoir. Her writing pursuits introduced her celebrities like Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, and Horace Walpole, and lasting friendships were established. Meanwhile, Elizabeth was developing quite the reputation as a bona fide party-girl. She gambled, drank, and slept around. In fact, it seems as though she was the life of the party although I would love to know if that novelty went away with age. One of Elizabeth's affairs was with Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander, the Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach who was the grandson of the King of Prussia.

By 1780 the earl had had enough of her affairs and partying (despite him having his own affairs) and the couple divorced. Now, here is an interesting little fact. At the time of the divorce (in a means of self-consolation?) Lord Craven decided to build a home on the old hunting grounds of Anne Boleyn. This woodland retreat was dubbed "Craven Cottage" and although the original structure has been replaced by a football pitch, it still remains the name of Fulham FC's home stadium. I have had the luck of seeing not one, but two of my clubs defeated by Fulham on this historic Craven ground. But that's what being a Newcastle fan gets you....

But I digress! The newly divorced Elizabeth traveled the continent, writing and partying along the way. One of her more notable works was A Journey through the Crimea to Constantinople. Also, being a party girl she had rivalries with other tarts. She referred to Grace Elliot as 'Glumdalclitch' -the giantess from Gulliver's Travels. In 1791 the wife of her longtime lover, Alexander (the Margrave), died. Later that year in September, Elizabeth's ex-husband died as well. By Halloween her and Alexander were wed. The two lived an lavish life together (he had already built her houses before they were married) but were ostracized by high society for their scandalous pasts. This didn't stop them from throwing parties in their Hammersmith home. Elizabeth continued writing plays at this time and sometimes would be seen in the theatre on the stage alongside Mrs. Abington, rather than in the audience. Elizabeth also was not allowed to share her husband's rank and title although in Enlgand they were refered to as the Margrave and Margravine. Eventually, she was given the title of Princess Berkeley by Emperor Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire. A few years later, Alexander died.

After her husband's death in 1806 Elizabeth withdrew to her home, Craven Villa, in Naples. She died in 1828 after writing her Memoirs but her spirit is immortalized in Hammersmith with two streets named after her, Margravine Gardens and Margravine Road.